Students must bring these materials to class each day. Any student who does not have one or more items may purchase them (composition and spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, 2-pocket folders) from me. These items are available for purchase only—no loans will be given.
Grading Grading is based on weighted points earned from assignments, hands-on activities, tests/quizzes, and participation:
A 100 – 93% A- 92 – 90% B+ 89 – 87% B 86 – 83% B- 82 – 80% C+ 79 – 77% C 76 – 73% C- 72 – 70% D 69 – 60% F 59 – 0%
PARTICIPATION
Participation points (30) will be given each week. You are expected to come to class every day prepared and ready to work. Points are automatically lost for unexcused tardies, and all points are lost for the week for truancies. Failure to follow classroom rules will result in an automatic loss of participation points. The rules are clearly posted on the wall, so you will not receive warnings. If you cannot follow the rules, I will call home and speak to your parents about your classroom behavior. Any dangerous or offensive/aggressive behavior will be an automatic referral to the deans’ office. Participation points are lost (5 per incident) when students:
Arrive late to class
Do not participate in daily warm up
Have an unexcused absence
Bring food or beverages to class (water bottles are OK)
Use of any electronics, such as cell phones, MP3 players hand-held games
Are disrespectful to the teacher, other student(s) or property
Do not bring required material(s) to class
Any other behavior that affects students’ learning
HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS We will work together in class, but there are times when homework will be assigned and must be completed outside of class. Please see me during scheduled tutoring times or make an appointment for after school if you need help. I will always make time to help students learn, but you must make the effort to see me before it’s too late!
Late work will be accepted for half credit. Late work will not be accepted after three weeks from the due date.
Cheating is not allowed at South High School. Examples of cheating are:
copying someone else’s work/answers
allowing someone else to copy your work/answers
talking during a test or quiz
writing the answers/doing the work for someone else
allowing someone else to write your answers/do your work
Please see page 23 of the student handbook for consequences of cheating.
ATTENDANCE Your attendance can greatly affect your grade. If you have poor attendance, you will miss important lessons and fall behind in your work, which may cause you to fail the class. Parent/Guardian Notification The Infinite Campus system will notify your parent(s)/guardian(s) of absences each evening by phone and/or email. Excused Absences Absences can be excused with a parent/guardian phone call to the school attendance clerk or attendance line (720-423-6081; Español, 720-423-6070), a note from the parent/guardian, or a doctor’s note. A parent/guardian can also come to school in person to excuse the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me about make-up work. Students missing classes for excused absences, suspension, or school business related absences are NOT excused from completing class work. You have one day for each absence to make up any missed assignments. Students with excused absences will be allowed to make up work for full credit. Unexcused Absences/Truancies Any student who misses an assignment because of an unexcused absence will be allowed to make up the work for half credit. Students who are truant will not be permitted to make up any assignments.
TARDY POLICY Students are required to be in class and in their seats when the bell rings. Students arriving after 15 minutes will be marked absent.
Hall Passes Students are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared. Any trips to lockers or the bathroom should be done during the passing periods. Any student who asks to leave the room to go to a locker or the restroom must show me a current student ID (no bus passes, driver’s licenses or Colorado ID cards) for a hall pass. If the student does not have a student ID, he/she will not be allowed to leave. Each student will be allowed three passes per semester, which may not be “transferred” to another student and expire at the end of the semester. The teacher may refuse a pass to any student, or cancel future passes if the privilege is abused. Any student who interrupts the lesson to request a pass will not be allowed to leave. Passes will not be given during the first and last 15 minutes of the period.
Dress Code South High’s dress code will be enforced. Please see page 20 of the Student Handbook.
Teacher Website It is recommended that students check my website at least once a week. It contains important information, such as:
Syllabus
Class notes
Assignments
Worksheets
My schedule and contact information
Important links
Course Expectations Students will apply what they have learned in Earth science to describe and explain the formations and conditions of our current Earth and predict how the Earth may change in the future. You will also create a project that demonstrates knowledge of the main ideas from each section of the chapter.
Course Overview Bedrock Geology: In this chapter, students will learn about the three types of rocks and determine how they fit into the rock cycle. They will also discover how faulting and folding change rocks, and use geologic principles to determine the ages of rock layers. Volcanoes: Our study of volcanoes will focus on where volcanoes are most likely to form, as well as the dangers they create. We will also study the types of volcanoes and how to predict an eruption. Plate Tectonics: This chapter explains what happens at the different types of plate boundaries and the effects of the different types of plate movements. It also describes the mantle and crust layers, and how convections currents cause the Earth’s plates to move. Finally, the chapter discusses theories about plate movement and the evidence used to support those ideas. Earthquakes: During our earthquake unit, we will study earthquake waves, where earthquakes take place and the damage they can cause. Astronomy: After completing the astronomy chapter, students will be able to describe the objects that make up the solar system, compare the units used to measure distances in space and explain how objects and process in our solar system affect Earth. Finally, students will learn about the lives of stars, including our sun, and the formation of the universe.
Modifications In ELA Earth science, teachers and students work at a slower pace than mainstream Earth science. Teachers also use sheltered English instruction strategies to provide more focused and detailed attention to literacy.
Earth Science
2015-2016
Contact Information:
Teacher Name: Ms. Rachel Aldrich
Phone Number/Voice Mail: 720-423-6123
E-mail Address: Rachel_Aldrich@dpsk12.org
Room Number: 227
Tutoring Hours: Tuesdays during lunch; Thursdays 7:45 – 8:15; after school by appointment
Website: http://msaldrichscience.wikispaces.com/
Course Number: 03622
Materials:
EarthComm textbook
Notebook (composition or spiral)
Pen/pencil
12-inch ruler
2-pocket folder
Highlighter
Students must bring these materials to class each day. Any student who does not have one or more items may purchase them (composition and spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, 2-pocket folders) from me. These items are available for purchase only—no loans will be given.
Grading
Grading is based on weighted points earned from assignments, hands-on activities, tests/quizzes, and participation:
A 100 – 93%
A- 92 – 90%
B+ 89 – 87%
B 86 – 83%
B- 82 – 80%
C+ 79 – 77%
C 76 – 73%
C- 72 – 70%
D 69 – 60%
F 59 – 0%
PARTICIPATION
Participation points (30) will be given each week. You are expected to come to class every day prepared and ready to work. Points are automatically lost for unexcused tardies, and all points are lost for the week for truancies. Failure to follow classroom rules will result in an automatic loss of participation points. The rules are clearly posted on the wall, so you will not receive warnings. If you cannot follow the rules, I will call home and speak to your parents about your classroom behavior. Any dangerous or offensive/aggressive behavior will be an automatic referral to the deans’ office. Participation points are lost (5 per incident) when students:HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS
We will work together in class, but there are times when homework will be assigned and must be completed outside of class. Please see me during scheduled tutoring times or make an appointment for after school if you need help. I will always make time to help students learn, but you must make the effort to see me before it’s too late!
Late work will be accepted for half credit. Late work will not be accepted after three weeks from the due date.
Cheating is not allowed at South High School. Examples of cheating are:
Please see page 23 of the student handbook for consequences of cheating.
ATTENDANCE
Your attendance can greatly affect your grade. If you have poor attendance, you will miss important lessons and fall behind in your work, which may cause you to fail the class.
Parent/Guardian Notification
The Infinite Campus system will notify your parent(s)/guardian(s) of absences each evening by phone and/or email.
Excused Absences
Absences can be excused with a parent/guardian phone call to the school attendance clerk or attendance line (720-423-6081; Español, 720-423-6070), a note from the parent/guardian, or a doctor’s note. A parent/guardian can also come to school in person to excuse the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me about make-up work. Students missing classes for excused absences, suspension, or school business related absences are NOT excused from completing class work. You have one day for each absence to make up any missed assignments. Students with excused absences will be allowed to make up work for full credit.
Unexcused Absences/Truancies
Any student who misses an assignment because of an unexcused absence will be allowed to make up the work for half credit. Students who are truant will not be permitted to make up any assignments.
TARDY POLICY
Students are required to be in class and in their seats when the bell rings. Students arriving after 15 minutes will be marked absent.
Hall Passes
Students are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared. Any trips to lockers or the bathroom should be done during the passing periods. Any student who asks to leave the room to go to a locker or the restroom must show me a current student ID (no bus passes, driver’s licenses or Colorado ID cards) for a hall pass. If the student does not have a student ID, he/she will not be allowed to leave. Each student will be allowed three passes per semester, which may not be “transferred” to another student and expire at the end of the semester. The teacher may refuse a pass to any student, or cancel future passes if the privilege is abused. Any student who interrupts the lesson to request a pass will not be allowed to leave. Passes will not be given during the first and last 15 minutes of the period.
Dress Code
South High’s dress code will be enforced. Please see page 20 of the Student Handbook.
Teacher Website
It is recommended that students check my website at least once a week. It contains important information, such as:
Course Expectations
Students will apply what they have learned in Earth science to describe and explain the formations and conditions of our current Earth and predict how the Earth may change in the future. You will also create a project that demonstrates knowledge of the main ideas from each section of the chapter.
Course Overview
Bedrock Geology: In this chapter, students will learn about the three types of rocks and determine how they fit into the rock cycle. They will also discover how faulting and folding change rocks, and use geologic principles to determine the ages of rock layers.
Volcanoes: Our study of volcanoes will focus on where volcanoes are most likely to form, as well as the dangers they create. We will also study the types of volcanoes and how to predict an eruption.
Plate Tectonics: This chapter explains what happens at the different types of plate boundaries and the effects of the different types of plate movements. It also describes the mantle and crust layers, and how convections currents cause the Earth’s plates to move. Finally, the chapter discusses theories about plate movement and the evidence used to support those ideas.
Earthquakes: During our earthquake unit, we will study earthquake waves, where earthquakes take place and the damage they can cause.
Astronomy: After completing the astronomy chapter, students will be able to describe the objects that make up the solar system, compare the units used to measure distances in space and explain how objects and process in our solar system affect Earth. Finally, students will learn about the lives of stars, including our sun, and the formation of the universe.
Modifications
In ELA Earth science, teachers and students work at a slower pace than mainstream Earth science. Teachers also use sheltered English instruction strategies to provide more focused and detailed attention to literacy.